ATLANTA, April 19 (UPI) -- Jeff Francoeur hit a three-run home run Wednesday to spearhead the Atlanta Braves' 8-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Kelly Johnson went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in, and Scott Thorman finished with a home run and two runs scored for the Braves, who have won three of their last four games.
Kyle Davies, who started for Atlanta but did not factor in the decision, was charged with four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. Oscar Villarreal (1-0) got the win despite blowing a save and giving up two runs in one inning of work.
The Cubs' Mark DeRosa hit a solo home run and drove in a pair of runs. Derrek Lee went 2- for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for Chicago, which has dropped three of four.
Starter Carlos Zambrano coughed up five runs on eight hits in six innings, but it was Scott Eyre (0-1) who took the loss by giving up three runs while recording just two outs.
Before the game, the Braves signed manager Bobby Cox to a one-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2008 season.
